Footage of real ICE raids are dramatic and disturbing enough as it is. Now, Facebook users are being duped by AI-generated videos that portray even more extreme deportations happening in public spaces, from city streets to Walmarts.
As 404 Media reported Wednesday, a number of deepfake clips are going viral on the Meta-owned platform, which changed its content moderation rules after the 2024 election to have fewer restrictions on political topics like immigration and gender.
One viral clip purports to show Latino Walmart workers being lined up and put into a van with “IMMIGRATION AND CERS” written on the back. One employee is ordered to step up by an ICE agent with a “POICE” badge, but then does a weird, sideways walk back into the line, suggesting something’s off.
Other videos posted by the same Facebook account ― “USA Journey 897” ― show McDonalds employees being similarly targeted in immigration raids or food delivery workers on bikes being ambushed by ICE agents.
None of these videos are real. They’re riddled with telltale AI signs ― in the Walmart video, the man’s unnatural gait and the misspellings throughout give it away ― but people are still falling for them.
